Watering

This is the most important aspect of caring for bonsai, especially for bonsai that is kept indoors for too long.  Two things to remember about providing water for bonsai are the type of soil and species.  Different soils will absorb and retain water at different rates and different tree species have varying degrees of water need.

The Japanese have a saying: water three times, each one for the pot, the soil and the tree.  About 75% percent of water is taken in through the root system, but don’t forget the leaves.  Bonsai plants also acquire water through its stomata so make sure you wipe or wash away the dust and dirt regularly.

Use gentle water pressure when watering your bonsai.  If you use a strong one, you might wash away the topsoil and expose the roots.  Use a misting hose or a spray hose with an adjustable spray nozzle and mind the water temperature.  Good tap water is fine, so take care that the water that comes out of the hose isn’t too cold or too warm.

Soil

Soil choice for your bonsai is critical for its health and long life.  It really depends on the tree species of your bonsai, but generally, soil should be made of 30% humus and 70% grit for needled evergreen trees and 70% humus and 30% grit for deciduous trees.  If you have a different bonsai species, make sure to look up which soil meets its special needs, since you might have to prepare a special soil mix yourself.

Bonsai Tree

caring for your bonsai tree

Pruning

Pruning involves leaves, branches and roots.  Bonsai lovers know that what you do to the bottom, you do to the top.  Remember that less foliage means less for the roots to support.  But where to start and which to cut? 

First, consider the style you've chosen for a particular bonsai.  Draw an imaginary line over your bonsai and cut the branches that protrude, obstruct or deviate from that line.  Second, prune to redirect growth in one area.  If you prune the left side heavily, you will redirect growth to the right side.

Next, prune leaves or buds with care.  Pruning buds will encourage back-budding and cutting leaves will 'discipline' the growth of the bonsai.  It is also necessary to manage the nutrients that the roots draw up from the soil.  Remember that you are trying to grow a tiny tree and letting it grow on its own will result to an uncontrolled size.

Caring for bonsai takes lots of patience, knowledge and learned skills.  It involves continuous work, but the results are more than worth the effort.

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How to understand the benefits of having house plants; get professional tips and advice from an expert on caring for indoor plants and flowers in this free gardening video. Expert: Austin Sheppard Bio: Austin Shepard is studying Landscape Architecture at the BAC in Boston, MA. He developed an interest in landscaping and gardening while working for a landscaping company. Filmmaker: David Jackel

this is video 2 of 4 affirmation vids check them all out!!! Follow me on twitter twitter.com
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To care for indoor jade plants, keep them very dry, give them small amounts of water, and put them in bright, sunny windows. Get jade plants to blood by keeping them in a dark room for a month and then switching them to a sunny area with instructions from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.

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Grow your own pepper plants in your home, with plants such as jalapeños, cayenne and habañero peppers available. Spice up your indoor garden with the help of a nursery proprietor in this free video. Expert: Frank Burkard Contact: www.burkardnurseries.com Bio: Frank Burkard, Jr., the third-generation proprietor of Burkard Nurseries, carries on the family tradition. Filmmaker: Max Cusimano Series Description: Indoor gardening can allow you to grow plants such as herbs, peppers and vegetables in places without access to a yard or outdoor area. Make your own garden of dreams with the help of a nursery owner in this free video.

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To keep your indoor houseplants healthy and flourishing they can infrequently must be pruned or re-potted. The method is very like the plants and of equal importance. Dead or sick branches can have an effect on the general fitness of the whole plant and may be cut off. And there's the esthetic facet of pruning, it gives you plants a pleasant and clean shape. If you're pruning a branch off a plant that's ill ( with fungus ) it is extremely important to purify your pruning shears after having used them. If you don't, and continue to prune your healthy plants there's a chance the fungus will spread to your other plants.

A solution of bleach and water will kill the unwished-for organisms pleasantly. When you glance at the plant if it seems too full you can thin it out, this is crucial round the base trunk or stem. You would like good air flow round the plant and if the branches and leaves are too choked up this can not occur. Trim enough of the surplus foliage away to let the plant "breathe".

When you're trimming branches to keep a uniform appearance to your plant just trim what's obligatory.

Prune the new expansion to keep it inline with the remainder of the plant. As plants grow so do their root systems. If your plant isn't prospering or you detect that the roots are perceivable around the exterior of the pot, your plant is most likely root bound. It is very important to transplant the plant to a bigger pot. Once you've selected one and have prepared it for the plant extremely carefully loosen the roots on the exterior of the root ball. Then put the plant in the middle of the new pot surrounding it with new potting soil.

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John from www.growingyourgreens.com goes on a field trip to Costco and learns that they water their indoor trees with ice! He also talks about the forevever return policy that apply to yourtree and plant purchases at Costco.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Gardening today is not just confined to the outdoor space in your lawn. There is this concept of indoor gardening that is fast catching up. Just as an outdoor gardener has to learn the basics of gardening before he/she can start growing his/her favorite plants, similarly there are a few rules of indoor gardening that every gardening enthusiast should familiarize himself with. In this article we shall explore the ways and methods which can help indoor plants grow better.

Lighting Requirements

Indoor plants often cannot stand strong blazing sunlight while there are others which cannot thrive in low light conditions. And then there are indoor plants which prefer low light and shady cool places. You have to identify the needs of each type of plant. Many experienced gardeners feel that natural light can be replaced by artificial lighting to benefit the growth of indoor plants.

Plants with low light requirements can be kept in shady cool corners. Plants requiring moderate amounts of light can be kept near sunny bay windows or French doors.

In short, if you want your indoor plant/plants to grow properly and healthily, you must provide it with adequate and sufficient amount of lighting depending on what kind of lighting requirement it has - whether very high or high or medium or low or very low.

Material of Pot

When you plant your indoor plants in pots made of clay (a porous substance), the water can evaporate fast and so you shall have to water the plant more frequently. If you don't have so much time on your hands, then nonporous plastic containers can reduce your load.

However, since water can't evaporate from nonporous containers, the water often remains stuck inside the pot. And this results in slow decomposition and rotting of the roots of plants that ultimately leads to the death of the plant. So you have to choose a pot wisely.

Size of Pot

Even the pot size is of vital importance as it can affect the rate of growth of any indoor plant. The size of the pot or container should be directly proportional to the size of the plant, as otherwise it won't look balanced.

When you plant a large indoor plant in too small a container, there is a lack of adequate space for the soil as well as lack of room for the roots to grow. Such a mistake will make your plant droop soon. Besides, a small plant in too big a container looks rather jarring and idiotic.

It is to bring that added dimension of beauty in the living room or office space that people have taken to indoor plant gardening by hordes. If you follow these simple steps, it will ensure the health and vibrancy of your much loved indoor plants.

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World of Bonsai Series One: Episode 1 - Omiya Bonsai Festival, Hiroshi Takeyama, Toshifumi Obitsu, etc
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There is now plenty of scientific evidence to support living indoorpotplants improve the physical and mental wellbeing among workers, improve productivity, increase happiness in the office and they clean the air of powerful toxins known as VOC's www.tpr.com.au more details.

It may be cold and wet outside but it is a great time to brighten your indoors with some unique and interesting plants. Here are a couple strange and beautiful ones.
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Bonsai Care: First Things First

As with any garden, the basic elements that your bonsai plant will need to thrive are the right soil, the appropriate amount of light, and the right amount of water. 

However, bonsai care involves fulfilling certain needs that ordinary plants don’t have. For instance, did you know that most bonsai trees are bred to be outdoor plants like their full-sized counterparts?  If you bring a sun-loving bonsai inside, be prepared to give it 12-16 hours a day of fluorescent light. There are, however, some bonsai plants that do not need that much light, and these may be the ideal species if you want to practice bonsai care indoors.   

Another important element of bonsai care is utilizing the right soil.  In the “wild,” trees grow tall due to their deep root systems, which dig deeply into the earth.  In contrast, your bonsai will grow in a shallow tray or container, and therefore, your tree’s root system cannot penetrate deeply downward. Instead, it will spread out shallowly, thereby reducing your tree’s growth.  For this reason, bonsai plants need a special mix of soil to ensure that their roots don’t become waterlogged and drown. Because they are grown in such shallow containers, regular potting soil is much too dense and will trap too much water, killing the tree’s roots, and eventually, the tree. 

In practicing proper bonsai care, you should purchase special bonsai soil, which is a mix of loam, sand, and organics, like peat moss and leaf mold. What soil you should specifically buy is determined by your local climate. Your local greenhouse or nursery, bonsai enthusiast, or Agriculture Extension office can help you determine which soil is perfect for your bonsai’s care.  

Water and Food in Bonsai Care

Of course, the one question all beginner bonsai gardeners have is “when should I water my bonsai?”  The answer to this important bonsai care question depends upon what kind of bonsai you have, how humid or dry the air is around your bonsai, what time of the year it is, and other variables. 

Ideally, in bonsai care, you want a balance between too much and too little. Don’t overwater—but don’t underwater either. Make sure your water is at room temperature, as you don’t want to shock your plant with either cold or hot water. If you use tap water, let it sit out overnight so that the chlorine and other chemicals can oxidize out of the water. 

Wet the soil first, which will increase the bonsai’s ability to take in more water.  Afterwards, soak the soil until water runs out of the drainage holes in your training tray. Make sure that the entire soil mass gets wet. Watering is best done daily in the early morning, before the plant begins its daily photosynthesis cycle.  You can also mist your bonsai on a daily basis to help it retain its necessary humidity levels.

As for fertilizer in bonsai care, use a completely balanced fertilizer (i.e., 20-20-20, which is equal parts nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) every other week at quarter strength.  A balanced fertilizer is ideal in bonsai care because your tree is considerably smaller than the plants the fertilizer is typically used for. Never fertilize a dry tree (the shock could kill it – make sure to water first!) and don’t fertilize a sick tree; remember, fertilizer isn’t medication.

With the right amount of water and light, along with appropriate soil and fertilizer, you are well on your way to growing a beautiful bonsai collection.  Bonsai care does not have to be difficult, as long as you remember to meet the fundamental needs your beautiful bonsai plant has.

Your bonsai may be looking a little worn out. We visit with Brian Tsugawa to see what he recommends for early spring care. We also chat about their 30th anniversary.
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